Envelop-sealing device.



l. SLAYBAUGl-L EuvELoPsE/LIN'G DEVICE. APPLlCATl-ON FILED OCT. 174 1914.

Patented Jan; 4, 1916. j

v 2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

J. SLAYBAUGH. ENVELOP SALING DEVICE.

APPLICATION FILED OCT. I4. I9I4.

Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

I ATTORNEYS @mw mw..

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JAMES SLAYBAUGH, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR OF ONE-HALF T0EDWIN A. NEWTON, 0F PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

ENVELor-SEALING DEVICE.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Jan. 4, 1916.

Application filed October 14, 1914. Serial No. 866,584.

Philadelphia, county of Philadelphia, State* of Pennsylvania, haveinvented a new and useful Envelop-Sealing Device, of which the followingis a specification.

My invention relates to a` new and useful envelopsealing device andconsists of novel means for feeding the envelop, for mois-k tening theflap thereof and for properly locating the envelop for sealing.

It further consists in providingadditional means for positively insuringthe proper sealing" of the envelop.

It further consists of other novel features of construction, all as willbehereinafter fully set forth.

For the purpose of illustrating Inyinven` tion, I have shown intheaccompanying drawings one form thereof which is at present preferred byme, since the same'will give in practice satisfactory and reliableresults, although it is to be understood that the variousinstrumentalities of 'which my invention consists can be variouslyarranged and organized and that my invention is not limited to theprecise arrangement and organization of lthese instrumentalities asherein shown and described.

Figure 1 represents a plan view of an envelop sealing device embodyingmy invention. Fig. 2 represents a sectional view, on line .Qc-m Fig. 1.Fig. 3 represents a sectional view on line y/-y/, Fig. 1. Fig. 4represents a similar section of certain Vof the parts shown in Fig. 8,in different position'. Fig. 5 represents a sectional view of a portionof the device. detached position, certain of the parts.

Similar numerals of reference indicate corresponding parts in thefigures. Referring to the drawings, 1 designates Y the bed or support ofthe device which may be supported in any desired manner, as byl the legs2. The bed is preferably provided with the sides 3 and at a suitablepoint the said sides are extended upwardly, as at 4. Connected with saidextended portions is a frame 5 consisting of three sides, and suitablyhinged or otherwise movably connected therewith, is the feed-gate 6,whichwith the other sides of the frame 5 constitute a hopper orcontainer for a stack of envel: Ops- The lower portion of said. hopper,

Fig. 6 represents, inV

serving as the support proper, of the container, consists of the bars 7which extend suitably across the lower portion of the hopper, as will beseen in Figs. 1 and 3. These bars are supported in any suitable mannerand, as here shown, are connected with, or carried by, the waterreceptacle 8 which is formed in any suitable or desired manner and isconnected with the frame of the de- 1 l vice. v v

As here shown,`I have formed the recesses 9 in the upper portion of theextendedsides 4 which recesses 9 are adapted to receive the curved lowerVwall of the` water receptacleS 'and I preferablyv provide' ears 10 onthe receptacle which rest upon the upper edge of the sidewall 4 toassist-in preventing improper movement of the receptacle which ispositively heldin position by means of a thumb-screw 11 whereby the samemay be easily removed and replaced. Rotatably mounted inl suitableposition with respect to the receptacle 8 is the moistening roll 12which is freely rotatable and adapted to water of said receptacle.

I preferably desire to make the lowerv edge i of the feed-gate outwardlyextending, as at 13, said edge being provided, as here shown, with thecut away portions 14 for purposes to be hereinafter described.

Suitably mounted upon the bed, or support 1, is a reciprocating feederwhich as here shown consists of a fr-ame 15 which carduring thereciprocation of the feeder frame 15 the said hooks are permitted freepassage- 'by reason of the cut-away portions 14 inthe feed-gate 6, aswill be clearly understood from Fig. 2.

It will be seen more especially in Fig. 3, that the engaging members 17are so located with respect to the rearmost throw ormovement of thefeeder-frame, that the same will be then in position to engage with thesaid edge of the envelop while .the moistening roll is so positionedthat when the'reciproleating feeder is moved forwardlythe `with-.drawfalof the lowermost envelop will cause the gamme@ portion of theaptO-be drawn across the moistening roll. The frictional engagementbetween the roll and the flap will cause a suitable amount of rotationof the moistening roll to insure that the same will present the properamount of moisture at such operation.

18 designates a spring jaw suitably supported, in the present instance,by the bed 1, the jaw member proper thereof being suitably located withrespect to the edge 13 of the feed-gate 6 in order that in the forwardmovement of the feeder an envelop is fed therebetween, and on the returnmovement of the feeder, the flap of the envelop will be engaged and heldbetween the said jaw and the said feed-gate.

1 have provided means movable with the feeder frame for sealing orpartly sealing the'envelop and, as here shown, this consists of a roller19 which is rotatably mountedv in a suitable manner in the feeder frame15 and l have provided suitable means for preventing rotation of saidroller in one direction of the movement of said feeder frame 15. ln thisinstance, 1 provide a ratchet 20 anda dog or pawl y21 having a nose 22adapted to engage with the teeth of said ratchet. l have found, inpractice, that the roller will, in most instances, seal the envelop butin order to positively insure the sealing thereof, l have provided apresserplate 23 beneath which the envelop is adapted to be positionedand, in the present instance, I have movably-mounted the presserplate 23upon guides 24 carried by the frame 25 which is pivoted at 26 to the bed1 in order that the frame can be moved into the position seen in dottedlines in F ig. 3 for storage, transportation or otherwise. 1t will benoted that the presser-plate is preferably freely movable on the guideand is provided with an upwardly flaring lip 27 to insure that theenvelop will properly pass to a'position beneath said plate.

28 designates serrated or toothed mem-bersY which are suitablypositioned in order that the'lower edge of the envelop at the propertime will be caused to engage with the proper teeth thereof to insurethat the said envelop is properly directed to its position on thesupport for sealing, as will be hereinafter described, it being notedthat the teeth 29 are of varying heights on the members in order toaccommodate different sized envelops. 1 preferably provide rollers 30upon which the feeder yframe 15 moves and I provide a tension device forholding the frame 15 in its proper position the said tension device, inthe present instance, consisting of the pivoted lever 31 to one end ofwhich is connected a springV 32 and upon its oppositeV end i; mounted aroller 33 which is adapted to bear upon the side of the feeder-frame 15,as will be evident.

34- designates a stop carried by the bed 1 against whichtheifeeder-frame 15 abuts in "its rearmost position, in order that thehooks or engaging members 17 carried by the said frame 15 will always beproperly located in order to engage with the inner edge of an envelop.The envelops 35 are placed in the container with the flaps 36 open andextending downwardly, preferably between the water receptacle 8 and theframe 5, as clearly seen in Fig. 3, and upon said envelops 1 place aweight 37 for holding the envelops in suitable position and impartingthe desired amount of tension thereupon. The said weight is preferablyprovided with an ear 38 which extends downwardly to engage with aportion of the flaps to assist in holding the same in proper position.The handle 39 is provided at a suitable point on the feeder-frame 15 forease of operation. A stack of envelops with their flaps open having beenplaced in position in the container and with the weight 37, thereon, thedevice is ready for operation.A By moving the feeder-frame 15 to itsrearmost position (that seen in Fig. 3), the hooksv'17 will engagewiththe inner edge of the inner side of the envelop and by pulling uponthe frame 15 and moving the same in a forward direction, the lowermostenvelop is removed and drawn forward from its position in the container.During this operation, by reason of the pull on the envelop, the gummedportion of the flap is brought into engagement with the face of themoistening roller 12 and so is moistened. Therfrictional engagementbetween the flap and roll will impart a suitablev amount of rotation tothe roll 12, so that, a properly moistened surface of the roll is placedin position for the next envelop. rlhe envelop is carried forward totheeXtreme forward position of the frame and the envelop will be in theposition seen at 35a in Fig'. 4, with the flap'gripped between the edge13 of thev feed gate 6 and the spring jaws 18.

Upon the return movement of the feederframe 15 the envelop at 35a, willfall in the direction indicated by the arrow, in Fig. 4, and will assumethe position of the envelop 35", as seen in Fig. 3, with the flap stillgripped between the'feed-gate 6 and spring jaws 18. The feeder-frame 15has meanwhile been moved back to its rearmost position and the hooks 17have engaged with the edge of the lowermost envelop. The feederframe 15is again moved forwardly carrying the lowermost envelop with it and asuitable portion of the tilting arms 16 strikes the envelop 35h, anddisengages the flap thereof from the feed-gate 6 and spring jaw 18,tilting the envelop in the direction indicated by the arrow in Fig. 3,so that the said envelop will fall or be deposited upon the bed 1 withthe flap -36 thereof uppermost, the envelop then being in the positionseen in Fig.' 4, at 35C, and it being noted that the roller 19 is inadvance of the said envelop.

It will be understood that the second mentioned envelop will then be inthe position seen at 35a. Uponthe return movement of the feeder-frame15, the roller 19 which is movable therewith and which rotates upon thereturn movement of the said frame, will roll over the moistened flap 36of the envelop at 35 sealing the same, as seenpat 35d Fig. 3. In themeantime the second mentioned envelop which has been removed, will belo-4 cated in the position seenlat 35 and the hooks 17 will havereturnedto a position to engage the then lowermost envelop. By the neXtforward movement of the feeder-plate 15 it will be noted that the roller19 cannot rotate, by reason of the engagement of the 35d, the saidenvelop will be moved or ycarried forwardly and placed beneath thepresser-plate 23 which will rest upon the sealed flap and envelop andwill positively insure that the envelop will be permanently sealed.During this forward movement the envelop at 35b will have been depositedupon the bed-1 and the third mentioned envelop, when removed by thehooks 17 will have assumed the position seen, at 35a Fig. 4, and thecycle of operation just described is repeated. I

It will be noted that the proper one of the teeth 29 of the member 28will be engaged by the `lower edge of the envelop, when in position, at35", and will insure that the said envelop is properly thrown over bythe tilting arms 16 and will be positioned upon the bed 1 with the flapuppermost in advance of the roll 19 before its return movement.

I-Iaving thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is y 1 1. In a device of the character stated,a support, a container for the envelops with their flaps open, areciprocating feeder to withdraw the lowermost envelop, means forreversing the envelop to deposit the same upon the support with the flapuppermost,

means for moistening the flap, and means movable with said feeder toseal the flap in one movement and in another movement to remove thesealed envelop from its position on the support'. l A

2. In a device of the character stated. a support, a container fortheenvelops with their flaps open, a moistening device, means for removingthe lowermost envelop and for causing the gummed portion of the flap tocontact with the moistening device, means for holding the envelop in asubstantially upright position, means on said 'removing means forreleasing said envelop, whereby the same will fall upon saidsupport withthe Hap thereof uppermost, and means movable 311th said removing meansfor sealing said 3. In a device of the character stated, a support, acontainer for the envelops with their flaps open, a moistening device, areciprocating feeder for removing the lowere most envelop and drawingthe gummed portion of the flap into contact with the moistening device,means for holding said envelop in a substantially upright position uponthe return movement of said feeder, means on said feeder adapted on thenext forward movement thereof to release said envelop from said holdingmeans, whereby the same will fall upon said support with the flapuppermost, and means movable with said feeder for engaging said flap toseal the same.

et. In a d'evice of the character stated, a support, a container for theenvelops with their flaps open, a moistening device, a reciprocatingfeeder `for removing the lowermost envelop and drawing the gummedportion of the iap into contact with the moistening device, means forholding said envelop in a substantially upright position upon thereturnymovement of said feeder, meansV on said feeder adapted onthe-next forward movement thereof to release said envelop from saidholding means, whereby the same will fall upon said support with theflapuppermost, means movable with said feeder for engagingsaid `flap to sealthe same, on one movement of said feeder and to i remove the sealedenvelop from its position `envelop in a substantially upright positionupon the return movement of said feeder, means on said feeder adapted onthe next forward movement thereof to release said envelop from saidholding means whereby thesame will fall upon said support with Vthe flapuppermost, means with which the lower portion of the envelop is adaptedto engage to insure the proper tilting o-f the envelop, and means,movable with said feeder, for thereafter engaging said Ai'iap to sealthe same.

character stated, a Y

6. In a device of the-character stated, a

support, a container for the envelops with their flaps open` amoistening device, a reciprocating feeder for removing the lower mostenvelop and drawing the gummed portion of the `ap thereof into contactwith the `moistening device, means for holding .said

envelop in a substantially upright position upon the return movement ofsaid feeder, means on said feeder adapted on the next forward movementthereof to release said envelop from said holding means whereby the samewill fall upon said support with the ap uppermost, a presser-plate, andmeans movable with said feeder for thereafter engaging said flap to sealthe same on one movement of said feeder andl to move the sealed envelopto a position beneath said plate on the reverse movement of said feeder.

7 In a device of the character stated, a support, a. container for theenvelope with their flaps open, a moistening device, a reciprocatingfeeder for removing the lowermost envelop and drawing the gummed portionof the Hap into contact with the moistening device, means for supportingsaid envelop in a substantially upright position upon 'the returnmovement of said feeder, means on said feeder adapted on the nextforward movement to engage said envelop and to tilt the same whereby itwill fall upon said support with the flap uppermost, means with whichthe lower portion of the envelop engages to insure the proper tilting ofsaid envelop, a presser-plate, and means movable with said feeder forsealing the flap on one movement of said feeder and to move the sealedenvelops to a position beneath said plate on the reverse movement ofsaid feeder.

8. In a device of the character stated, a support, a container for theenvelops with their flaps open, a feed-gate, moistening device, meansfor removing the lowermost envelop and for causing the gummed portion ofthe flap to contact with the moistening device, a spring` j aw betweenwhich and the feed-gate` the flap is engaged for holding the envelop ina substantially upright position, means on said` removing means-forreleasing said envelop and causing the same to fall upon said sup-portwith the flap thereof uppermost, and means movable with said removingmeans for sealing said iap.

9. In a. device of the character stated, a support, a container for theenvelops with their flaps open, a moistening device, means for removingthe lowermost envelop and for causing the gummed portion of the flap tocontact with the moistening device, means for supporting the envelop ina substantially upright position` means on said removing means forreleasing the envelop to cause the same to fall upon said support withthe flap thereof uppermost, a roller movable with said removing means toroll over said flap and seal the same in one movement of the feeder, andmeans forI preventing rotation of the said roller in the oppositedirection of movement of said feeder whereby the said roller, on theforward movement of the feeder, will remove the sealed, envelop from itsposition l01.1 the bed.

l()l In a device of the character stated, a support, a container for theenvelops with their flaps open, a reciprocating feeder, engaging meanscarried thereby to engage the edge of the inner side of the lowermostenvelop, a moistening device with which the gummed portion of the flapcontacts in its passage from the container, jaws to engage the flapandhold the envelop during the return movement of the feeder, a tiltingarm carried by said 'feeder to strike the envelop to deposit the sameupon said support with the iap upperpost, and a roller movable with saidfeeder to seal the flap on the return movement of the said feeder.

1l. In a device of the character stated, a support, a container for theenvelops with their aps open, a reciprocating feeder, engaging meanscarried thereby to engage the edge of the inner side of the lowermostenvelop, a Inoistening device with which the gummed portion of the iapcontacts in its passage from the container, jaws to engage the flap andhold the envelop during` the return movement of said feeder, a tiltingarm carried by said feeder to strike the envelop on the next forwardmovement of the feeder to deposit the envelop upon said support with theflap uppermost, means for assisting in the proper tilting of theenvelop, a roller movable with said feeder to roll over and seal saidflap, and means for preventing rotation of said roller on the forwardmovement of said feeder whereby said roller engages said envelop andremoves the same from its position on the support.

l2. In a device of the character stated, a support, a container for theenvelope with their flaps open, a feed-gate movably mounted with respectto said lcontainer and forming a portion thereof, a reciprocatingfeeder, engaging means carried thereby to engage the edge ofthe innerside of the lowermost envelop, a moisteningKV roll freely rotatable withwhich the gummed portion of the flapl contacts in its passage from thecontainer and which is rotated thereby, a spring` jaw between which andthe feedgate the flap is held during the return movement of said-feeder,whereby said envelop is supported, in a substantially upright position,a tilting arm carried by said feeder to strike the envelop on the nextforward movement of the feeder to deposit the envelop upon said support,with the flap uppermost, means for assisting in the proper tilting ofthe envelop, a roller movable with said feeder to roll over and sealsaid flap on the return movement of said feeder, and means forpreventing rotation of said roller on the forward movement of saidfeeder whereby said roller engages said envelop and removes the samefrom its position on the support.

1.3.- .Ill a device of the character stated, a

support, a container for the envelops with their flaps open,a feed-gatemovably mount-r ed with respect to said container and forming a portionthereof, a reciprocating feeder, engaging means carried thereby toengage the edge of the inner side of the lowermost envelop, a moisteningroll freely rotatable with which the gummed portion of the flap contactsin its passage from the container and which is rotated thereby, a springjaw between which and the feedT gate the flap is held during the returnmovement of said feeder, whereby said envelop is supported in asubstantially upright position, a tilting arm carried by said feeder tostrike the envelop on the neXt forward movement of the feeder, todeposit the envelop upon said support, with the flap uppermost, meansfor assisting in the proper tilting of the envelop, a presser-plate, aroller movable with said feeder to roll over and seal said flap on thereturn movement gages said envelop and moves the same to a positionbeneath said presser-plate.

14:. In a device of the character stated, a container for a stack ofenvelops having its bottom upon which tlie'envelops rest spaced from oneside to provide a space to receive pendant flaps, means for engagementwith the inner edge of the inner side of the lowermost envelop, amoistening device station-V arily mounted below the bottom and linproximity to the space and between which and the side of the containerthe flaps are situated, a platform at one side of the container farthestfrom the space, means for actuating the engaging means for removing thelowermost envelop from the container to the platform and to draw thegummed portion of the flap against the moistening device, said'removingmeans turning over the envelop as it passes from the container to theplatform.

JAMES SLAYBAUGH. Witnesses:

C. D. MCVAY, F. A. NEWTON.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for ve cents each, by addressingthe Commissioner of Patents, Washington, D. C.

